Key Facts
Status: Unsolved
Also known as: The Zodiac, Zodiac murders, Zodiac case
Coverage: 22 timeline events, 17 persons, and 13 locations
Sources collected: 447 sources
Zodiac Killer
Updated March 26, 2026
Overview
Case Overview
The Zodiac Killer case concerns a string of confirmed attacks in Northern California in the late 1960s, including the murders of five victims, along with a campaign of letters and ciphers sent to police and the press. Some of the ciphers were decoded decades later, but the killer's identity has never been established, keeping the case among America's most famous unsolved homicide investigations.
Case At A Glance
Core canonical Zodiac attacks were committed by one offender
Moderate confidence
Status
Unsolved
Primary location
Gaviota State Park Beach
Open question
Which later letters, if any, were written by the same offender?
Latest timeline item
Jan 29, 1974: Exorcist Letter Sent
Explore This Case
Categories
Most FamousTop UnsolvedSerial Killer
Tags
California1960scipherunsolvedRiversideSan FranciscoDNAGenetic Genealogy
Read Next
Continue Exploring
These cases share themes, geography, or investigative context with the one you are viewing.
Black Dahlia
The 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short in Los Angeles remains one of America's most famous unsolved homicide cases.
Most FamousTop UnsolvedCaliforniaunsolved
Open case file →
Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper was the unidentified killer linked to the 1888 Whitechapel murders in London, one of history's most famous unsolved homicide cases.
Most FamousTop Unsolvedunsolved
Open case file →
Green River Killings
The Green River killings were a long-running series of murders in Washington state that led to Gary Ridgway's conviction in one of America's largest serial-homicide investigations.
Most FamousSerial Killer
Open case file →